The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your skull and lower jaw. IThe muscles and tissue surrounding the TMJ are responsible for opening and closing of your mouth. Disorders of the jaw and surrounding muscles and tissues are referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders).
TMD is heavily influenced by many diverse factors. Ever hear someone say that they hold their stress in their jaw? There’s something to that. Because of this, we use a very multi faceted approach. We use a mixture of manual therapy techniques, relaxation techniques, muscle re-education, activity modification, and postural training to treat the TMJ. Because of the proximity to the neck and the rest of the head, TMD can present with a variety of symptoms such as headache or ringing of the ears. We attempt to treat these interrelated issues as thoroughly as possible.
Physical Therapy may help with pain associated with:
- Pain in & around the jaw area
- Clicking or locking in the jaw
- Jaw tightness
- Painful chewing
- Painful yawning
- Neck pain & stiffness
- Headaches
